A Stuart Cunnington hat-trick ensured that in-form Spalding 1st go in to the East Men’s Hockey League winter break in the most commanding of positions.
Ace goal-getter Cunnington notched all three goals as the Division One leaders made it ten wins on the trot with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph at Colchester 1st on Saturday.
Table-topping Spalding end 2014 with a five-point cushion to second-placed Ipswich East Suffolk and are eight points clear of third-placed Bourne/Deeping 1st.
In the only men’s match involving South Holland sides to beat the weather, Cunnington made it 1-0 from a piece of individual brilliance mid-way through the first half.
The visitors then took their foot off of the accelerator and reverted to dribbling with the ball, barely stringing passes together – and they were punished near the end of the first half when they allowed Colchester to break and score a simple goal.
Having gone in 1-1 at half time, Spalding were much improved after the interval. Chances came and went, with Jack Drury unlucky to deflect wide on a couple of occasions and Cunnington forcing more good saves from the keeper.
However, when it came the second goal was a wonder strike from Univeg man-of-the-match Cunnington. His reverse stick effort into the top right of the goal was an absolute stunner.
Not done there, the hat-trick hero clinched the points with a short corner third, before the hosts pulled one back in the closing stages.
- A last-gasp save from keeper Lorraine Wallis helped Long Sutton ladies’ 1st pick up a 2-1 win at St Neots ladies’ 1st in East Women’s League Division 2NW on Saturday – and kept them in the title mix.
Sutton started much the brighter, but fell behind when Annie Cerveno neatly slotted home after a well-worked break.
They weren’t behind for long, though, as Jess Hudson fired a good pass for Leah Goodle, who delivered the ball with perfect pace for Amber Wild to bury a sweet leveller.
Sutton’s winner then came early in the second period from a short corner as Robyn Gribble deceived the running defenders by passing smartly to Jeorgia Carr who made no mistake with an excellent finish.
St Neots rallied at the death, with Wallis forced to fling out her leg to deny them a last minute equaliser.
Sutton skipper Charlene Leuty said: “This was a hard fought for win and fair play to St Neots, they pushed us hard. But we came through it and after the festive break we look forward to challenging the top spot.
“We have Peterborough to come to us, we have to go to Spalding and Spalding have to travel to Peterborough so things will happen.”
